Resiliently compressible barrier system conformable to footwear aperture

ABSTRACT

A barrier system ( 1 ) providing various apparatus and methods to barricade a footwear aperture ( 5 ) from the passage of foreign or unintended material or organisms ( 8 ) into the footwear cavity ( 7 ). Particular embodiments of the invention comprise a footwear aperture barrier ( 2 ) of a resiliently compressible material having an oval or ovoid ( 3 ) shape that can be conformed to the interior aperture surface ( 6 ) of footwear ( 4 ). Other embodiments of the invention provide a molded footwear aperture barrier ( 2 ) of resiliently compressible foam material that elastically conforms to the interior aperture surface ( 6 ) of footwear ( 4 ).

The present application claims priority to the earlier filed provisional application No. 63/208,974 filed on Jun. 9, 2021, and hereby incorporates subject matter of the provisional application in its entirety.

A resiliently compressible barrier system conformable to a footwear aperture provides a barrier from foreign or unintended material or organisms into the footwear cavity.

BACKGROUND

Entry of foreign or unintended material or organisms can occur into a footwear cavity anytime a foot appendage is not wearing the footwear. When footwear is empty, left open, or uncovered, then foreign or unintended material or organisms can enter the footwear cavity. Foreign or unintended material or organisms can be, but are not limited to; debris, dust, rock, dirt, moisture, pathogens, organisms, insects, rodents, reptiles, arachnids, plants, or seeds.

A significant problem can be that foreign or unintended material or organisms may enter the footwear cavity, which can cause irritation, discomfort, illness, or death when a foot appendage enters the footwear cavity juxtapose to the foreign or unintended material or organisms.

Footwear spacers systems may appear to be similar in concept, but not in function. Footwear spacers systems are commonly used to stiffen, stretch, or restore the footwear cavity shaping as disclosed for example by U.S. Pat. Nos. 177753; 317560; 2,114,677; 2,478,965; D215131; D418670; or D730038. Such spacers are applied through the main footwear aperture and are typically wood or solid material. However, a problem with the footwear spacers as disclosed may be that they are not comprised of resilient compression characteristics as to provide rebounding of the spacer to the conforming of the footwear aperture. When the spacer material cannot compress and then conform to the entirety of the interior of the footwear aperture, then foreign or unintended material or organisms may enter into the footwear cavity through the nonbarricaded gaps.

A significant problem with the footwear spacers as disclosed may be the intended function does not correlate to the function of providing barricade to the main footwear aperture from foreign or unintended material or organisms into the footwear cavity.

Alternately, an upper boot footwear block as disclosed provides no detail regarding application, orientation, or material type of the block for example by U.S. Pat. No. D821,735. A problem with the upper boot footwear block as disclosed may be that there are no resilient compression characteristics as to provide rebounding of the block material to the conforming of the footwear aperture. It may be the block cannot compress and then conform to the entirety of the interior of the footwear aperture and consequently foreign or unintended material or organisms may enter into the footwear cavity through the nonbarricaded gaps.

A problem with the upper boot footwear block as disclosed may be that the block does not conform to all sizes of upper boot footwear. Another problem with the upper boot footwear block as disclosed may be there is no top mushroom shaped portion creating a cap or dome cap over the opening of the footwear aperture providing characteristics in the repelling or deflection of moisture, debris, rock, dirt, or dust.

Another problem with the upper boot footwear block as disclosed may be that its only application would be for boot footwear, leaving many other footwear types without a block.

Relating to footwear block and spacer technology in general, and specifically with regard to a resilient barrier characteristics, compression characteristics, securing characteristics, rebounding characteristics, conforming characteristics, frictional engagement characteristics to provide a footwear aperture barrier from foreign or unintended material or organisms, it can be understood there are an array of problems that remain unresolved. The numerous embodiments of the invention address each these above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad object of the invention can be to provide footwear aperture barrier configured to form a barrier in a footwear aperture for various types and sizes of footwear. An object of the invention can be to prevent entry of foreign articles whenever the foot appendage is not wearing the footwear or whenever the footwear cavity is empty. Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to place the footwear aperture barrier in the footwear aperture whenever the footwear is not in use or when the footwear cavity is empty.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to provide footwear aperture barriers cut, formed, or molded from resiliently compressible material in various sizes for usage with various sizes of footwear as a footwear aperture barrier.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to provide footwear aperture barriers with various colors to indicate usage for various sizes of footwear.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to provide footwear aperture barriers with various colors to indicate personalized color selection for the intended user.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to provide footwear aperture barriers with graphic indicia or information printed, applied, or otherwise established on the surface of the resiliently compressible barrier material to indicate instruction, logo, warning, or size of the barrier system.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be the connecting of the footwear aperture barrier to another footwear aperture barrier by the use of a cord, rope, lace, ribbon, string, toggle, wire, or other fastening device for the use of pairing the footwear aperture barrier to another footwear aperture barrier.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be the connecting of the footwear aperture barrier to another footwear aperture barrier by the use of a cord, rope, lace, ribbon, string, toggle, wire, or other fastening device use of carrying a pair of footwear.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be the shape of the footwear aperture barrier as an ovoid or oval shape having operably mated barricade elements for the use of creating a coupled barrier within the footwear aperture.

Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to provide a footwear aperture barrier cut, formed, or molded from resiliently compressible material as an oval mushroom shape having operably mated barricade elements for the use of creating a coupled barrier within the footwear aperture and top mushroom shaped portion creating a cap or dome cap over the opening of the footwear aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B Show various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier invention to prevent passage of foreign or unintended material or organisms into the cavity of the footwear. FIG. 1A shows a two dimensional view of the top, side, and end perspective. FIG. 1B shows another two dimensional view of the top perspective. FIG. 1C shows a three dimensional view of the side.

FIGS. 2A-2B Show various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier invention with a cap or dome cap to prevent passage of foreign or unintended material or organisms into the cavity of the footwear.

FIGS. 3A-3C Show various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier invention within various types of footwear to prevent passage of foreign or unintended material or organisms into the cavity of the various footwear. FIG. 3D shows examples of various embodiments of foreign or unintended material or organisms.

FIG. 4A-4B Shows another perspective of side view and top view of various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier invention secured to a location within footwear to prevent passage of foreign or unintended material or organisms into the cavity of the footwear.

FIGS. 5A-5B Show various embodiments, including side views and back views, of the mushroom shaped footwear aperture barrier invention with a cap or dome cap over the opening of the footwear aperture providing excellent characteristics in the repelling or deflection of foreign or unintended material or organisms into the cavity of the footwear.

FIGS. 6A-6B Show various embodiments of the connecting of the footwear aperture barrier to another footwear aperture barrier by the use of a cord, rope, lace, ribbon, string, toggle, wire, or other fastening device.

FIGS. 7A-7B Show various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier invention with graphic indicia, or information printed, applied, or otherwise established on the surface of the footwear aperture barrier invention.

FIG. 7C Shows various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier invention cut, formed, or molded in various sizes to match with the varying sizes or types of footwear apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A resiliently compressible footwear aperture barrier system conformable to the interior aperture surface of the footwear, providing barricade to foreign or unintended material or organisms from entering into the footwear cavity.

While various embodiments of the invention are illustrated or described for use in providing footwear aperture protection by barricade or barrier from commonly known types of debris, dust, rock, dirt, moisture, pathogens, organisms, insects, rodents, reptiles, arachnids, plants, seeds, or the like, these particular examples of foreign or unintended material or organisms are not meant to limit the scope of the invention to these examples but rather the examples are meant to be illustrative of how to make and how to use the numerous embodiments of the invention to barricade or provide a barrier for a wide variety of footwear, boots, or shoe apertures.

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 1A-1C, which provide examples of basic embodiments of the invention, a footwear aperture barrier (2) configured for various individual footwear apertures (5) can be cut, formed, or molded from a resiliently compressible force absorption material having at least one substantially oval or ovoid (3) surface conformable to the interior aperture surface (6) of the footwear (4). As can be understood, with respect to each individual footwear aperture (5), or with respect to various size apertures, numerous configurations of the footwear aperture barrier (2) can made which can be conformed to the interior aperture surface (6) of the footwear (4) as necessary or desired.

The resiliently compressible material from which the footwear aperture barrier (2) blank can be cut, formed, or molded can be a foam material generated by mixing a polymer or foamable material such as: polypropylene, urethane, polyurethane, olefin foam, polyolefin, latex, ethylene vinyl acetate, or similar polymer, with a catalyst, such as: N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine; N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine; N,N,N′,N″,N″-Pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine; N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine, 70% Bis[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl] ether/30% Dipropylene glycol; N,N′,N″-Tris[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-hexahydro-s-triazine; N,N-Dimethylbenzylamine; N,N-Dimethylbenzylamine; 4-Methylmorpholine; 4-Ethylmorpholine; Triethylenediamine; 33% Triethylenediamine/67% Dipropylene glycol; isothiocyanate; or the like. A blowing agent can be used introduce the catalyst into the polymer or foamable material to generate foaming which establishes cells or voids in the foam material. Foam material suitable for use with the invention can have either an “open cell” or “closed cell”. For example, polyurethane foam can be manufactured to have an “open cell” that provides numerous voids within the foam material through which gases or liquids can pass through. Alternately, for example, latex foam can be manufactured with a “closed cell” that does not allow gases or liquids to pass through. Often closed cell foam is referred to as “waterproof” foam material because it will not allow liquids to pass through the cells or voids.

The density of a foam material is determined by dividing the foam material weight by its volume. The density can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the cell volume or void volume within the foam material. Low-density foam material is generally considered to have a density of 1.9 pounds per cubic foot or less. High-density foam material is generally considered to be a density of 2.0 pounds per cubic foot or greater.

Compression characteristics of foam material can be measured by exerting force against the foam material with a flat compression foot larger than the footprint of the foam material specimen tested. These tests measure the pounds of force it takes to compress the foam material. A value called the Compression Force Deflection (CFD) or Compression Load Deflection (CLD) can be expressed as pounds of force exerted at 25%, 40%, 50%, or 65% compression of the foam material. The higher the CLD number the firmer the foam. Firmness can be controlled by the way the foam material is formulated, whereas density is determined by the total weight of foam ingredients per unit volume. Moreover, density and compression are not related. You can have either a soft foam material or a firm foam material at the same density.

Resiliency corresponds to the spring the foam has, surface liveliness or spring-back ability.

Resiliency is measured with a Ball Rebound test. A steel ball is dropped onto the foam material sample from a fixed height. Resiliency is expressed as a percentage of ball rebound against the original height of the ball drop.

The invention can be practiced using foam material(s) having numerous combinations or permutations of density, compression, or resiliency, whether open cell or closed cell, so long as the cured foam material can be molded, formed, or cut, to provide the footwear aperture barrier (2) blank with at least one substantially oval or ovoid (3) surface conformable to the interior aperture surface (6) of the footwear (4) at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures between about −40.degree. F. and about 120.degree. F. Depending on the interior aperture surface (6) configuration of the footwear aperture (5) and the degree of conformance to the interior aperture surface (6) of such footwear aperture (5) necessary or desired, the formulation of the foam material may be altered accordingly by varying: the polymer, the catalyst, the degree of density, the CDL, or resiliency until the degree of conformance to the interior aperture surface (6) of footwear (4), whether necessary or desired, is achieved.

Certain embodiments of the invention can further comprise a foam material that can be heat formed to induce the foam material to maintain a conformation that corresponds to the interior aperture surface (6) configuration of the particular footwear aperture (5), or makes conformance of the foam material with the interior aperture surface (6) of the particular footwear aperture (5), as shown in FIG. 3A-3C.

The description of foam material provided is not intended to limit the scope of the invention only to foam material as described above and can be practiced using numerous types or kinds of resiliently compressible materials that can be formed, molded, or cut, then configured or conformed to the interior aperture surface (6) of the particular footwear aperture (5) as described.

Conforming the substantially oval or ovoid (3) surface of the resiliently compressible foam material to the interior aperture surface (6) of the footwear aperture (5) generates sufficient frictional engagement between the substantially oval or ovoid (3) surface of the footwear aperture barrier (2) and the footwear aperture (5) as to provide a sufficient barrier to prevent passage of said foreign or unintended material or organisms (8).

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 2A-2B, a particular embodiment of the footwear aperture barrier (2) invention can further include a cap (11) to provide excellent characteristics repelling or deflection of moisture, liquids, debris, rock, dirt, or dust. The rounding of dome cap (12) provides excellent characteristics repelling or deflection of moisture, liquids, debris, rock, dirt, or dust.

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 3A-3C, 4A, and 4B, various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier (2) invention for various footwear (4) types. The footwear aperture barrier (2) can be operably conformed to a various footwear (4) types by compressing and locating the footwear aperture barrier (2) within the interior aperture surface (6). The rebounding of the footwear aperture barrier (2) to the extent necessary as to the conforming of the footwear aperture barrier (2) to the interior aperture surface (6) of the said footwear (4). The rebound action creates sufficient frictional engagement between the footwear aperture barrier (2) and interior aperture surface (6) providing a sufficient barrier to prevent passage of said foreign or unintended material or organisms (8) into the footwear cavity (7).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 5A-5B, various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier (2) invention rebounded, located, and conformed to the interior aperture surface (6) providing a sufficient barrier to prevent passage of said foreign or unintended material or organisms (8) and top mushroom shaped portion creating a cap (11) or dome cap (12) over the opening of the footwear aperture (5). The overhang of the rim of the cap (11) or rounding of dome cap (12) provides excellent characteristics repelling or deflection of moisture, liquids, debris, rock, dirt, or dust.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 6A, a particular embodiment of the footwear aperture barrier (2) invention connected to another footwear aperture barrier (2) by the use of a cord, rope, lace, ribbon, string, toggle, wire, or other fastening device (9) for the use of pairing the footwear aperture barrier (2) to another footwear aperture barrier (2).

Now referring primarily to FIG. 6B, a particular embodiment of the footwear aperture barrier (2) invention connected to another footwear aperture barrier (2) by the use of a cord, rope, lace, ribbon, string, toggle, wire, or other fastening device (9) for the use of carrying a pair of footwear.

Now referring primarily to FIG. 7A-7B, various embodiments of the footwear aperture barrier (2) invention with graphic indicia, or information printed, applied, or otherwise established on the surface of the footwear aperture barrier (2) to indicate instruction, logo, warning, or size of the barrier system.

Other embodiments of the invention can further comprise coloring the resiliently compressible barrier material. Color coding the footwear aperture barrier (2) can provide correspondence to various sizes of footwear (4) or to indicate personalized color selection for the intended user.

Foamable material(s), polyols, or polymers can be foamed and transferred to a mold to cure to the configuration of the mold; or the foamable material, polyols, or polymers, can be transferred to the mold and then foamed and cured to the configuration of the mold. Naturally, depending on the volume and configuration of the mold or the characteristics of the molded footwear aperture barrier (2) to be achieved the manner of foaming the material, adding catalyst, and curing of the molded footwear aperture barrier (2) can vary accordingly. The molded force absorption cover can be stripped from or removed from the mold.

The discussion included in this patent application is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in functionally oriented terminology, each aspect of the function can accomplished by a device, subroutine, or program. Apparatus claims may not only be included for the devices described, but also method or process claims may be included to address the functions the invention and each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element that causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, the disclosure of a “footwear aperture barrier” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “barricading a footwear aperture”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there only disclosure of the act of “barricading a footwear aperture”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “footwear aperture barrier” and even a “means for barricading a footwear aperture”. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

Additionally, the various combinations and permutations of all elements or applications can be created and presented. All can be done to optimize the design or performance in a specific application.

In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporated by reference. However, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these invention(s) such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).

In addition, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible in countries such as Australia and the like.

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim at least: i) each of the footwear aperture barriers as herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, and x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the elements disclosed. 

1) A method of barricading a footwear aperture, comprising steps of; a. compressing said resilient barrier material; b. rebounding of the said resilient barrier material; c. conforming said resilient barrier material to the interior aperture surface of the said footwear; and d. engaging sufficient frictional engagement between said resilient barrier material and said interior aperture surface as to provide a sufficient barrier to prevent passage of said foreign or unintended material or organisms into the cavity of the footwear. 2) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, wherein said resilient barrier material comprises an ovoid or oval shape having operably mated barricade elements coupled to said footwear aperture. 3) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, wherein said footwear aperture comprises an opening intended for the entrance of a foot appendage. 4) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of locating resilient barrier material within said footwear aperture. 5) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 4, further comprising the step of securing resilient barrier material to a location within said footwear aperture. 6) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 5, wherein the said step of securing resilient barrier material to a location within said footwear aperture comprises the step of rebounding of the said resilient barrier material. 7) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 5, wherein the said step of securing resilient barrier material to a location within said footwear aperture comprises the step of conforming said resilient barrier material to the interior aperture surface of the said footwear. 8) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 5, wherein the said step of securing resilient barrier material to a location within said footwear aperture comprises the step of engaging sufficient frictional engagement between said resilient barrier material and said interior aperture surface as to provide a sufficient barrier to prevent passage of said foreign or unintended material or organisms. 9) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 5, wherein the said step of securing resilient barrier material to a location within said footwear aperture comprises the step of having operably mated barricade elements coupled to said footwear aperture. 10) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 8, wherein the said engaging sufficient frictional engagement between said resilient barrier material and said interior aperture surface comprises of a material that provides sufficient compression and rebound to provide a sufficient barrier to prevent passage of said foreign or unintended material or organisms. 11) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 9, wherein the said step of having operably mated barricade elements coupled to said footwear aperture comprises of inserting the resilient barrier material into the aperture opening of the footwear. 12) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, wherein the said interior aperture surface comprise an oval, ovoid, or circular opening. 13) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of coloring said resilient barrier material. 14) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing indicia on a portion of the exterior surface of said resilient barrier material. 15) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting said resilient barrier material to another said resilient barrier material. 16) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 15, further comprising the step of connecting said resilient barrier material to another said resilient barrier material by means of a cord, rope, lace, ribbon, string, toggle, wire, or other fastening device. 17) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, wherein said resilient barrier material comprises an oval mushroom shape having operably mated barricade elements coupled to said footwear aperture and top mushroom shaped portion creating a cap or dome cap over the opening of the footwear aperture. 18) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 17, wherein said mushroom shaped portion creating a cap or dome cap over the opening of the footwear aperture provides excellent characteristics in the repelling or deflection of moisture, liquids, debris, rock, dirt, or dust. 19) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, wherein the said resilient barrier material comprise of various sizes to accommodate varying sizes of footwear apertures. 20) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 3, wherein the said footwear comprise of a main aperture designated to the entrance of the foot appendage. 21) A method of barricading a footwear aperture as described in claim 1, wherein the said resilient barrier material comprise of various sizes to accommodate varying footwear types. 